“Sometimes the dictionary definition of a word just doesn’t cut it,” Jon M. Chang reports for ABC News. “Ask Becca Gorman, a student at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in Massachusetts, who was writing an essay about gay rights when she saw something that she found offensive on her MacBook. When looking up the definition of the word ‘gay’ on her laptop, she saw that Apple’s dictionary also included its informal definition, meaning foolish or stupid.”
“Gorman, whose parents are lesbians, wrote an email to Apple CEO Tim Cook, saying that she objected to the inclusion of gay’s informal definition. ‘I’m sure he did too, being [part of] a gay-friendly company,'” Chang reports. “She got a call from an Apple representative about an hour after she sent her email. ‘They told me it’s so hard to track the dictionaries they’re getting sources from,’ said Gorman. The representative was also shocked at the offensive definition, and that the company would look into the problem.”
Apple’s current system-wide Dictionary definition of the word “gay”
MacDailyNews Take: Dictionaries are collections of words. They are tools meant to accurately reflect the language they catalog. Some words are offensive. Some contain offensive definitions because they are, in fact, offensive. In Apple’s Dictionary (New Oxford American Dictionary, 3rd Edition and Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, 2nd Edition) the usage is already clearly labeled “offensive.”
Use Apple’s dictionary to look up the definitions for other hot-button offensive words. They’re all there, too.
We’re fairly sure that Jewish people aren’t thrilled with the dictionary definition of the verb “jew,” but it’s there:
Apple’s current system-wide Dictionary definition of the word “jew”
Do you want your dictionary to be accurate or do you want it to first be sanitized by The Ministry of Truth?
It’s a slippery slope. On the other side of the equation, iOS contains emoji glyphs that feature what some consider to be homosexual couples that might be offensive some. Do those who are offended get to remove those images, too?
Apple’s iOS 7 emoji
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Chris V.” for the heads up.]
I agree with MDN’s take on this one. Using “Gay” as a pejorative meaning “stupid” is offensive to me, but it is a common enough use that any good dictionary would have to include that alternative definition.
It’s like the word “Fuck”. It is considered offensive, yet is used in so many different ways that it’s commonplace; if I don’t see “Fuck” in a dictionary, I consider it to be censorship.
I’ll go one step further. NOTE: If you’re easily offended, DO NOT read this post.
‘Fuck’ is offensive in many circles, especially mixed company. However, there are literally hundreds of completely harmless words that also have informal, potentially offensive meanings: Pussy, cock, ass, balls, and yes, gay – just to name a few. They’re all in the Apple dictionary with their casual/offensive meanings, right alongside their original harmless meaning.
So, apparently by Becca and her parents’ logic, we should now go through the dictionary and remove the informal definitions of any words which may offend someone.
It’s a damn dictionary; a language reference! The point of the reference is to learn and understand the meanings of the words in a language, offensive or not!
The high school student not grasping the full scope of this discussion I can understand. But two full-grown adults? This obviously a case of them putting their social agenda ahead of logic, language, and human knowledge.
If you don’t like it, don’t use the word. But, removing it from references, references which clearly denote the use as offensive?
Moronic doesn’t adequately describe this situation.
gay |geɪ|
adjective ( gayer, gayest )
1 (of a person, especially a man) homosexual.
• relating to or used by homosexuals: a gay bar.
2 dated light-hearted and carefree: Nan had a gay disposition and a very pretty face.
3 dated brightly coloured; showy: a gay profusion of purple and pink sweet peas.
My machine running 10.6.7 has basically the same def – but #2 & 3 are combined. Weird.
As I dictionary user wanting to look up the word, “gay” in every sense of the word, I would want to know all senses it can be used. Each sense gives the word another meaning. Are humans offended by the definition, “homo sapiens”? Look up the word “homo”. If a meaning of a word is used often enough in culture, and enough evidence is there to back it up, then it becomes a new sense of the word in a dictionary. It’s a fact of life. At least the dictionary warns you that the sense of the word may be considered offensive. The complainer to Apple is “stupid” for complaining to Apple about the sense of the word that got into the dictionary. It does not mean that gay people are stupid. Grow up.
I agree with MDN’s take on this one. Using “Gay” as a pejorative meaning “stupid” is offensive to me, but it is a common enough use that any good dictionary would have to include that alternative definition.
It’s like the word “Fuck”. It is considered offensive, yet is used in so many different ways that it’s commonplace; if I don’t see “Fuck” in a dictionary, I consider it to be censorship.
Anybody offended now?
I’ll go one step further. NOTE: If you’re easily offended, DO NOT read this post.
‘Fuck’ is offensive in many circles, especially mixed company. However, there are literally hundreds of completely harmless words that also have informal, potentially offensive meanings: Pussy, cock, ass, balls, and yes, gay – just to name a few. They’re all in the Apple dictionary with their casual/offensive meanings, right alongside their original harmless meaning.
So, apparently by Becca and her parents’ logic, we should now go through the dictionary and remove the informal definitions of any words which may offend someone.
It’s a damn dictionary; a language reference! The point of the reference is to learn and understand the meanings of the words in a language, offensive or not!
The high school student not grasping the full scope of this discussion I can understand. But two full-grown adults? This obviously a case of them putting their social agenda ahead of logic, language, and human knowledge.
If you don’t like it, don’t use the word. But, removing it from references, references which clearly denote the use as offensive?
Moronic doesn’t adequately describe this situation.
Is this a Maverick’s thing? I’ve checked 2 machines – one running Mountain Lion, the other running Snow Leopard – and neither one has this definition.
That’s weird. It’s on my 10.8 machine.
gay |gā| adjective
1 (of a person, esp. a man) homosexual:
2 lighthearted and carefree:
3 foolish; stupid:
Whoops – meant to make that a reply to your comment. I need more coffee.
I’m running 10.8.5 –
gay |geɪ|
adjective ( gayer, gayest )
1 (of a person, especially a man) homosexual.
• relating to or used by homosexuals: a gay bar.
2 dated light-hearted and carefree: Nan had a gay disposition and a very pretty face.
3 dated brightly coloured; showy: a gay profusion of purple and pink sweet peas.
My machine running 10.6.7 has basically the same def – but #2 & 3 are combined. Weird.
“she objected to the inclusion of gay’s informal definition”
Me too. Let’s just stick with the formal definition, i.e. lighthearted and carefree or showy.
This is offensive to lighthearted and carefree people everywhere! Act now Apple!
As I dictionary user wanting to look up the word, “gay” in every sense of the word, I would want to know all senses it can be used. Each sense gives the word another meaning. Are humans offended by the definition, “homo sapiens”? Look up the word “homo”. If a meaning of a word is used often enough in culture, and enough evidence is there to back it up, then it becomes a new sense of the word in a dictionary. It’s a fact of life. At least the dictionary warns you that the sense of the word may be considered offensive. The complainer to Apple is “stupid” for complaining to Apple about the sense of the word that got into the dictionary. It does not mean that gay people are stupid. Grow up.
Ministry of Truth: nice, very orwellian…
Remember Westside Story. Natalie Wood sings “I feel pretty and witty and gay” and I am sure she did not mean lesbian…